Chester man set to enter plea today in wife's fatal stabbing

Published 12:00 am, Monday, March 29, 2010

MIDDLETOWN -- A Chester man charged with killing his estranged wife as she called 911 for help will be returning to court to possibly enter a plea.

John Belanger, 49, is due today in Middletown Superior Court. A court clerk says Belanger is scheduled to enter a plea and his competency may be discussed.

Belanger is charged with murder in the stabbing death of Bonnie MacKay-Belanger Feb. 25. McKay-Belanger, 51, called police around 7:15 p.m. from her home at 7 Bailey Road, Chester, and said her husband was breaking in, police said. She told police that there was a protective order in place. They had been in divorce proceedings.

The victim had visible stab wounds on her back, upper chest and arm, police said. She was transported to Middlesex Hospital for medical treatment where she was pronounced dead at 8:13 p.m.

Police arrested Belanger on Route 9 shortly after the fatal stabbing. He had blood on his hands and clothing when he was pulled over, the police report states.

He was taken to Shoreline Clinic after his arrest and was then brought to Yale-New Haven Hospital. Lt. J. Paul Vance said Belanger was brought to the hospital after he "tried to harm himself."

When asked how Belanger tried to harm himself, Vance would not elaborate, saying "We don't get into that kind of detail."

An empty bottle of Xanax was found in Belanger's vehicle and one pill was found on the floor of the vehicle, according to the police report.

Belanger is being held in lieu of $2 million bail. His lawyer, Public Defender James McKay, says Belanger has mental health issues and he has asked for a competency evaluation.

"He's pretty distraught and disturbed," McKay said.

He was first arrested around 10 p.m. Oct. 17 and charged with second-degree harassment, according to information obtained from Middletown Superior Court. Judge Patrick Clifford placed a partial protective order on him after the arrest, which prohibited him from restraining or assaulting his wife, but did not bar him from the home or from having contact with her.

Belanger was arrested again Nov. 24 and was charged with violating a protective order. After that incident, Middletown Superior Court Judge Elpedio Vitale placed a full protective order on him, which forbid him from having contact with his wife and barred him from their residence at 7 Bailey Road.

He posted $500 cash bail following each arrest.

In December of 2009, McKay-Belanger filed for divorce, according to records at Middletown Superior Court.